The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-11-03
.lse NV Conrad is no coward

Still, as the time passed on, and no
news came from Conrad, gradually it
became whispered about among the
.owspeopie that in some way he had
been disgraced. The reports reached
| the ears of Zinas parents, and they
| questioned her about them, giving
| Heinrich as their authority, saying:
''lt is all very well for you to have
| faith in him, but no one else has, and
| the sooner you turn your thoughts
| from the unworthy one who has dis
| graced his name the better. There is
one, even now, who is dying for a
! favorable look from your ewes, and he
would be a fine match, tool"
Zina's mOther.was the spokeswoman
but she expressed her good mans opin-
ion also; and poor Zina's home comfort
was, from this time, completely de-
| stroyed between her mothers garru-
lous advocacy of Heinrich's now open
| ly declared suit, and her virulent de-
nunciations of her lover.
At last, nearly crazed by the con-
| stant strain upon her mind, Zina made
a sudden resolve. She would leave
bone secretly, and go and offer her.
| self as nurse for the wounded SOL
| diers, and thus by relieving the suf
ferings of others mitigate her own an
guish.
Had Conrad's mother been living,
Lina would rot have had the heart to
| go, for the lonely old woman had been
| dependent on her for many kindly SER
| vices. But about week after Con
RAIDS departure she was found one
morning apparently in deep -'oan
SO peaceful and quiet f. tthtiat at first Zins
| ie7i'a'eo L" .isGurb her; but il was
the slumber that knows no waking
The death-angel had laid his hand SO
tenderly upon her brow that all the
| lines drawn upon it by years of toll
and sorrow mad vanished, and the worn
| face seemed to wear a look of the
eternal youth which had come to her
freed spirit,
| Great CONSERVATION prevailed in
! the household when Zina was found to
be missing. As often happens, when
1t was too late to change their course
OF action, Zina's parents regretted
their harshness.
Heinrich, too, felt the pangs of sor-
row and of unavailIng remorse as he
saw how useless his plotting had
| proved, and that it had brought misery
to the girl he loved. He found that a
| true heart will be still true, though the
| object Of affection be faulty; that tc
| hate the sin is not necessarily to hate
| the sinner
As Zina started out alone and un.
protected on her tedious pilgrimage,
| oftentlmes her heart throbbed with
fear as she met and passed groups OF
| rough-looking men. But her chosen
garb of Sister of Charity proved a
most effectual safeguard. The most
| rude and reckless respected it's sancti-
| ty, and made no attempt to gaze at
the face sheltered in its sombre hood
When about three days journey
| from home she came upon temporary
hospital which had been fitted up for
| the accommodation of the wounded
soldiers. Here she proffered her ser.
vices, which were gladly accepted.
She was taken at once into the ranks
Of nurses, for the supply was far short
Of the demand. For days she worked
| faithfully among the poor fellows OF
one ward, binding up their wounds,
and lending sympathizing ear to
their messages for distant friends.
Then she was changed to different
| ward. As she entered it and glanced
! pityingly around, what was her sur
prise to see Conrad's face lying pale
and distigured upon one of the snowy
pillows.
She gave. an involuntary cry, and
started forward. Mingled with her
sorrow at sight of a CHASTITY wound
which stretched across one cheek and
| extended to the temple, was surging
tide Of joy at the thought that here was
evidence to prove that her confidence
had not been misplaced, No coward
could carry mark like that. He had
received it face to face with his foe.
And conspicuous from its bright-col-
ored ribbon, a decoration lay upon his
breast. Zina recognized it to be like
the one worn by all aged veteran at
home. who had won it by bravery
which had caused him to be ever after
incapacitated from active duty, but
which had made him the one person in
the place sought out by visitors of not
ability. Often had her tiny fingers
touch the old mans precious badge
reverently and admiringly, and Con,
rad wore one.
With the speed of light these
thoughts and conclusions flashed
through her mind as she stood beside
his HoI. Suddenly his eyes opened and
turned toward her,
''Oh, Conrad! she murmured. sink
ing upon her knees beside him. 81
am mere! Do you not know your own
ZlnaP" for a wild fear had darted into
her mind as she met his Indifferent un-
meaning stare. Had he beeD bereft
of reason by that terrible wound?
But, no; he knew the voice anu put
forth hand to grope aimlessly about,
until it closed upon Zina's slender fin
gers. Then be said:
''Ihank God that you have come to
me--that can hear you speak once
more before l dier'
Don't talk of dying. ! Icannot bear
it. | have come to take such care of
you that you will live" sobbed Zina.
Il do not wish to live. Do YOU not
see that | am blindP 1t is better for
me to die than to drag out a wretched
burdensome existence"
The girl bent and covered his hand
with passionate kisses.
Blind or not, it matters little to me-
so that you are alive. If you only
could know how | have longed to see
YOU"
A gleam of pleasure shot athwart
Conrad's pale face.
lis it so, little one?" he said. Then,
after moment, he raised the decora-
ton gained at such fearful price.
See, Zina. Kaiser William gave it
to me with his own hand! But it was
dearly won. | rushed between nv
general and an uplifted sword in the
hands of an assassin just before tn,
battle"
Noble, brave Conrad" whispered
Zina. ''You are worthy of a better
wife than poor little Zina. Some rich
titled lady will be asking you to marry
her. But I'll not give you up"
Her words HAD the desir-.d o#,o.
u